UCRS Toronto to Gravenhurst behind 6060 September 29, 1979

CN's restored 4-8-2 6060 was a fantrip favourite. Occasionally, I saw it run light over the Kingston Sub between Montreal and Toronto, to be in position to pull a fantrip. Hearing a steam whistle and seeing a fast-moving light engine were unforgettable. One such fantrip operated by the Upper Canada Railway Society departed Toronto Union Station at 0800 under cloudy skies. The ten-car consist was: 6060 - 5734 - 5714 - 5573 - 5626 - 5487 - 5599 - 3 more VIA coaches - UCRS Cape Race.

Around Union Station, at departure time:
GO engines 710, 704, 705
GO train 706 - 2077 - 2023 - 2029 - 2010 - 2012 - 2062 - 2028 - 907
CN 5456, 5620, 5449, Club St-Denis, 9622, 9662, 5207, 5222, 5195, 5203
CN engines 4017, 4016, 4101, 4104, 8228, 8522, 8234, 8184, 8175, 8214
CN cabooses 79512, 76549
CN RDC 6101
VIA 5386, 5495, 3032, 5738, Thunder Bay, Edmunston, 5648, 5640, Green Harbour
VIA engines 6780, 6785
CN Tempo coaches 363, 361, 343
CN Tempo engines 3150, 3153
CP 8142 with end-cupola vans 437237 and 437139

A water stop was made at Bradford. Here is the rear of the UCRS' car 13, Cape Race, complete with marker lamps.

A runpast followed at Barrie, and another water stop at Orillia. Around noon, a runpast was made at Mi. 87.3 Newmarket Sub. Upon arrival at Gravenhurst, more water was taken on, and 6060 ran around the train. The consist was pulled in reverse through some vibrant fall colours to Washago. Looking through the solarium end-door of Cape Race, 6060's unlit headlight was right there!

Upon arrival at Washago, a runpast was staged with 6060 running tender-first.

Three CN freights ran through before the train returned to Gravenhurst:

1427 W

9576 - 3212 - 9442 - CN and CP gondolas, CN stock cars and reefers - 79641

1450 W No 375

9642 - 9639 - 4523 - 79806

1455 E No 304 (pictured)

9509 - 9564 - 9643 - Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan and ACFX covered hoppers, Canfor all-door boxcar 20042 - 79649

We went to supper at Gravenhurst's KFC and returned around 1700 to find the train ready to return to Toronto. The return trip included a runpast at Mi. 95 and a water stop at Orillia. At Barrie, CN had snow-fighting equipment in the yard: plows 55206, 55368, 55406; flangers 56273, 56316, 56392, and 56444.

Back in Toronto, near Union Station:

VIA Enterprise, Alexandria Falls

CP engines 6523, 8777

CN engines 8512, 8513, 8517, 7026